“Ilocos Region is still bird flu-negative region.”- Adame

“Ilocos Region is still bird flu-negative region.”

Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office I Chief of the Regulatory Division and Regional Focal Person on Avian Influenza, Dr. Florentino Adame confirmed this in an exclusive live radio interview this morning with Bombo Absolom Flores in his Bombo Hanay Bigtime Program aired over Bombo Radyo La Union.

“There are three reported suspected cases, but thank God, upon validation in the area and as confirmed by the laboratory tests result, all these three suspected cases showed that they are negative of the AI virus,” Dr. Adame said.

To remain on guard with the threat of said disease, he shared the immediate actions that the DA-RFO I have undertaken to maintain a zero bird flu virus case in the region.

According to Dr. Adame, among the immediate actions undertaken by the DA-RFO I include the strict implementation of quarantine standards and protocol as well as other bio-safety measures that ensured the protection and safety of the poultry industry in the region.

Aside from these direct measures, Dr. Adame also mentioned DA’s move in conducting technical briefings and meetings with the Avian Influenza Task Force in the region where strategies and doable plans and actions were set to prevent the entry of the virus as well as the immediate measures to be taken should the virus affect or enter the region.

He called on the public’s vigilance to report suspected cases other than Avian Influenza because there are also other bird diseases that could possibly threaten the poultry industry in the region.

In Pangasinan where there were two poultry farms reported to have suspected bird flu cases and 1 other poultry farm in Iocos Sur, Dr. Adame confirmed that these birds were affected by the new castle disease but tested negative from Avian Influenza.

Meanwhile, to update the public on the inventory of live birds in the region, Dr. Adame informed that there are a total of 9,410,486 chickens and 400,411 ducks in the region sharing around 5.20% (chicken) and 3.55% (ducks) to the total national poultry inventory as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).